Sport Nation 2Nicolas Kuhn has emerged as a key player for Celtic this season, turning his fortunes around after a difficult start at the club. The German winger, who joined from Rapid Vienna in the winter transfer window, initially struggled to find his footing at Parkhead. He saw limited game time and was behind James Forrest in the team hierarchy by the end of last season. Many fans may have written Kuhn off as another failed ‘project signing,’ a common occurrence for big clubs like Celtic.
However, Kuhn has transformed his game this season and is now one of the standout performers in Brendan Rodgers’ squad. According to statistics from Transfermarkt, the 23-year-old has scored six goals and provided eight assists in just 11 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign. These impressive numbers highlight his growing importance to the team, arguably making him more integral to Celtic’s attack than even star players Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda.
Despite his current form, Kuhn still has some way to go in proving himself against top-tier competition. His recent performance against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League was a sobering experience, as Celtic suffered a 7-1 defeat away from home. It was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for Kuhn, who had hoped to impress on his return to Germany, where he had previously played for Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
Reflecting on the loss, Kuhn admitted the match was difficult on a personal level. “That was not our real face,” he told the Daily Record. “We lost to the finalists of the Champions League, and if you are not 100 percent, they will take their chances. We talked a lot about it, and it is done now. We are just focused on the games coming up.” Kuhn also shared that he had spoken to Brendan Rodgers after the defeat, and the Celtic boss had encouraged him to keep going. “He told me to keep going, and that’s what we did on Sunday,” Kuhn said.
True to his manager’s words, Kuhn bounced back from the Dortmund disappointment by scoring an 88th-minute winner in Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Ross County. His goal ensured that the team went into the international break on a positive note. While there was some controversy surrounding Kuhn’s celebration with the fans, with rival supporters calling for him to be shown a second yellow card, it ultimately did not matter. The critical takeaway was that Celtic showed the resilience of a champion team by securing three points in a tough away match when it seemed like they might drop points.
Kuhn’s development under Rodgers is emblematic of the culture the Celtic manager has instilled in his team. After a rocky first half of 2024, Kuhn has stepped up, as have many others, in delivering strong performances in both domestic and European competitions.
The Dortmund defeat, however, brought another intriguing subplot: Brendan Rodgers’ reunion with Nuri Sahin, now part of Dortmund’s coaching staff. Sahin had played under Rodgers during the Northern Irishman’s time as Liverpool manager, although his loan spell at Anfield was cut short due to a lack of playing time. Despite this, there seems to be no lingering tension between the two, with Sahin speaking highly of Rodgers in the lead-up to the Champions League clash. The Dortmund coach praised Rodgers’ managerial abilities, and after the match, the two exchanged words about how the game could have unfolded differently had it been played at Celtic Park.
Celtic have often shown their ability to rise to the occasion when playing at home. In recent seasons, they have delivered strong performances against top European opposition at Parkhead, including a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid and a commendable display against Real Madrid, despite ultimately losing 3-0. Celtic’s fortress-like home advantage makes one wonder if the result against Dortmund might have been different had they faced the German giants in front of their own fans.
This year’s Champions League format, however, does not include a home-and-away system in the initial stages of the competition, a change that has both helped and hindered teams like Celtic. While it levels the playing field in some ways, it also deprives clubs of the opportunity to use their home advantage against elite teams.
Off the pitch, Rodgers has found himself linked with several managerial vacancies in the Premier League. The Celtic manager’s stock remains high, with some pundits suggesting that his name has been floated in discussions for jobs at clubs like Everton. This is not the first time that Premier League sides have come calling for a Celtic manager—just last year, Ange Postecoglou left Parkhead to take the reins at Tottenham Hotspur.
Rodgers, of course, has history with leaving Celtic for the Premier League. He famously departed mid-season during his first stint at the club to take over at Leicester City, a move that left many fans feeling betrayed. Understandably, there is concern among the Celtic faithful that history could repeat itself.
Despite these rumors, Rodgers has been advised by many, including former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, to remain at Celtic and focus on his project at the club. Robinson, speaking to Football Insider, noted that while Rodgers will always be linked with Premier League jobs due to his success in England, the Celtic manager’s next challenge should be guiding the team to the next phase of the Champions League. “His next step at Celtic is qualifying for the next phase of the Champions League. The Dortmund game might just be a little bit of an eye-opener after the really good opening day win,” Robinson said.
From Rodgers’ perspective, leaving Celtic at this stage, especially for a club like Everton, seems unwise. The Merseyside club has struggled in recent years, consistently finding themselves near the bottom of the Premier League table. Everton’s precarious position, coupled with Rodgers’ past connections to Liverpool, makes the job a poor fit. Rafa Benitez’s ill-fated tenure at Goodison Park serves as a cautionary tale; the former Liverpool manager lasted only 22 games before being sacked by Everton.
For now, Rodgers’ focus remains on guiding Celtic to domestic and European success. While the loss to Dortmund was a setback, the club’s overall form this season has been impressive. Kuhn’s resurgence as a key player, along with the team’s ability to grind out wins in challenging circumstances, shows that Celtic are building something special under Rodgers’ leadership.
Sport nation
Amina Umar